BANGALORE: You will never be able to eliminate a weakness you don’t even know about. The first step to eliminate a negative habit is to become aware of it. Once you develop an awareness about the behavior you are trying to change, you will be well on your way to replacing it with one that is more helpful.
As an author, I am frequently invited to appear on radio and television talk shows. When I first started dong these programs, I thought I was a natural. I enjoyed meeting the hosts, sharing my insights and discussing the ideas in my books with callers. It was only when I began to tape myself and study those tapes that I realized something I had been unaware of: I spoke far too quickly. As a matter of fact, I sometimes spoke so fast that many of the key points I was trying to make got lost in the avalanche of words I heaped on the audience that had turned in. Becoming aware of my weakness was the first step to eliminating it.
I then went to my favorite bookstore and bought five books on effective communication. In addition I ordered a series of audiocassettes that contained the speeches of some of the world’s top speakers. I also joined the National Speakers Association. Finally, I picked up the phone and called a number of media personalities whom I felt I could learn from and invited them out for a quick lunch. Not one refused. Over a matter of weeks, I educated myself on how to improve my delivery on TV and radio so that I could share my message more effectively.
I have found as well that becoming aware of a weakness, that is, paying attention to it, also attracts more solutions into one’s life. For example, as soon as I realized that I needed to slow down to communicate in a better way, I started to notice seminars on the subject advertised in the paper. I also noticed that the right books appeared on the shelves of the bookstores where I was browsing and found people who could coach me. So, over the coming weeks, reflect on your weakness and vow to transform them into strengths that will add richness and energy to the way you live.
Excerpt from Who WIll Cry When You Die by Robin Sharma. www.robinsharma.com